Those three values, according to the symposium’s closing speaker, Doug Burgum, should anchor one’s life.  Mr. Burgum concluded the day of learning with a motivational and humorous presentation.

I believe he appropriately summarized each speaker and focused on what we, as students, can do.  It was a great way to end the symposium.

As a freshman, I was pleasantly surprised with the symposium.  In high school, I had never experienced such an event, so it was particularly enjoyable for me to attend and listen to the speakers.  But the presentations were not the only enjoyable aspect.  Numerous students participated in Question & Answer sessions, including a large group of students in my class.  I was happy to see my classmates participate in this forum, as I believe it is central to the mission of Concordia College.  In the description of the college’s mission, is a perfect summary of what my fellow Cobbers are doing by participating in the symposium.  Whether it be  asking a speaker questions or tweeting on Twitter, Concordia students always find ways to personify the mission of the college.

From the Concordia website (description of mission):

It was the end of a long day of life-changing lessons. The mood in Memorial was varied from excited and anxious to sore (those seats are NOT conducive to long-term sitting) and disappointment at the closing of the symposium.

I was ready to be done sitting, but saddened to think that the 24 hours of stimulating conversation was coming to a close. At the same time, I  wasn’t sure that another presenter could capture my attention and hold it. I was false.

Burgum effortlessly captured the crowd with his witty six-word recaps of previous speakers and an endearing confession that he wasn’t a practiced public speaker. In simple but powerful language, Burgum captured my attention and stimulated just as much – if not more – thought about the future of technology than the rest of the symposium combined. In short, the jobs my generation will have do not exist yet. The future comes one day at a time and at the rate that social media is changing the way we see ourselves and the world around us, it is impossible to predict what will happen in the next decade.

I appreciated the fact that Burgum didn’t use elaborate terminology or in-depth calculations but rather admitted his inability to understand the world that my generation is inheriting. In some respects, the lack of security for the future is terrifying. However, Burgum’s very liberal arts suggestion of developing a well-rounded character to combat whatever challenges the future may bring, made the future all the less intimidating. And dare I say, more inviting?

In short, this year’s symposium taught me this: Live a life you are proud of. Respect those around you. Have gratitude for the privileged lives we lead. And lastly and perhaps most importantly, have the courage to live a life that changes it all.

Posted by: Gia Rassier ‘10

This was my opinion of Doug Burgum as he summarized the symposium at the closing plenary. And since he extensively used the “six-word biography” structure, I thought I would borrow it for this post. Of course, it might not be as witty as Doug’s so I guess I should put out my own disclaimer

“Less humor; contact Doug for remaining”

But Doug was putting out a lot of disclaimers too, like one about him not being a professional speaker. Simply untrue, I thought….

“If true, don’t want professionals anymore”

But the other interesting disclaimer was how intellectuals and the experts whom we trust to know better have mostly failed to see the big societal and technological changes coming. Their predictions have mostly failed or as he will put it….

“Experts use broken crystal-balls; repair now!”

So he was not about to fall into their trap and give any specific predictions. I was intrigued by his belief though that people always jumped in and made a difference when the opportunities were right. He argued that society will continue to grow and progress rapidly quoting one of the few experts who appears to have gotten one prediction right that every 18 months….

“Silicon chip power doubles, prices half”

And society has indeed progressed technologically from the days of old when a paltry 5mb storage was going for $5,000 to today when 8gb is just $8. Such rapid progress is inevitable and really all we can do is hold onto our values like those of respect, gratitude and courage because….

“Rapid Change perpetual; underlying values constant” – Doug Burgum

I was very impressed with his presentation; simple but provokingly thoughtful. He was….

“Amazing way to end amazing symposium”

Posted by: Nutifafa Yakor ‘11

Doug Burgum tells the story of Gutenburg, a man with a great idea, very little capital and no protection for his intellectual property. But he persevered because of his belief in his invention, the printing press, and the pent-up desire to reproduce the written word.

Gutenburg’s invention came along at the same and the exact same place where Martin Luther was questioning and pushing to reform certain church rules and practices, and the two converged into the Protestant Reformation.

And so today we meet together at this Lutheran college, Concordia, instead of some other kind of college. The point being, both Gutenburg and Luther were motivated by their inner drive to see their ideas become reality. Gutenburg was convinced the time had come for the printing press with changeable type, and Luther was convinced the church needed to open the windows and let in the fresh air of new ideas and interpretations of scripture.

Burgum exhalts students to be tolerant of each other; be happy in what they do; and not be too anxious about careers, because the ones they are likely to get, very probably DO NOT exist yet today, just as his career in software did not exist when he finished college. So the times are changing fast, and those who are nimble and understand the limits and well as the possibilities of technology, will be able to find their way in this climate.

Posted by: Sheldon Green